Counselling

The Student Counselling Service is a professional, confidential counselling service provided to all registered students at DkIT.

Going to college is a wonderful experience for most people most of the time. However some of you may find the transition from school to college difficult, you may feel homesick and isolated, or you may have a sudden crisis like bereavement or illness. You may be worried about a friend or just be confused about where you can get help. The student counselling service is here to help you through these times.

Other kinds of issues students look for help with include relationship difficulties, study problems, concentration difficulties, depression, anxiety, feelings of hopelessness, family breakdown and sexuality/sexual identity.

To make an appointment to see a counsellor simply call into the Counselling Service Centre in person or alternatively;

Deciding to speak with a counsellor can be a positive step towards making life better for you.

You can also listen to our Intoduction to the DkIT Counselling Service Podcast here

Where are we located?

The service is discretely located in close proximity to the Health Unit on the first floor of the Faulkner Building. At AIB bank, take the stairs to the first floor and go through the glass doors on the right-hand side. The entrance to the counselling rooms is located at the first door to the right along the balcony. Should you have difficulties locating us prior to your first counselling session feel free to make contact with staff at the Student Services Centre who will be glad to help you out.

Resources for Students

We have put together a series of easy to use Self Help information pages that provide you with information and advice on some of the more common symptoms that people contact us about.

Have a look and you may find an answer to your question without needing to contact us. However, if you have any additional questions, please do not hesitate to let us know!

DkIT Mental Health Guidelines for Students - These Guidelines are primarily intended for the benefit of students attending DkIT and provide assistance to staff in supporting the mental well-being of all current and prospective students.

Information Leaflet for Students - This leaflet is aimed at students interested in coming to our counselling service and gives an overview of what our service provides.

DkIT Mental Health Youtube Video: 'Becoming Your Best Self'

Information Leaflet for Student Ambassadors - The counselling service has created an information leaflet that details important points that ambassadors should be mindful of when assisting new students' transition to their first year of college life. It covers the main role of the student ambassador, recognising boundaries of the role, contact details for the counselling service, and information on useful websites.

Bibliotherapy - Books can help!The use of books for therapeutic purposes is known as ‘bibliotherapy’. There is good evidence to show that the best self-help books can be highly effective in helping people with emotional problems such as depression, stress, anger, panic, low self-esteem, anxiety and eating problems.

As well as interventions such as counselling or medication, people can be helped by reading appropriate ‘self-help’ material. There is strong evidence that high-quality self-help books are useful in helping people to overcome a range of psychological problems. Self-help books can be highly effective when used as the main source of help, or in addition to other supportive interventions.

Resources for Staff

The Counselling Service provides consultative service to all staff in relation to student issues and concerns. If in any doubt about how to respond or proceed with a student difficulty or concern please feel free to consult with a member of the Counselling Team. This can be done over the phone (042) 9370247 or by appointment.

The following resources have been designed to provide additional support to staff when dealing with students in this area:

Staff Information Leaflet - This leaflet provides an overview of the function of student counselling service and how and when to make a referral.

Mental Health Guidelines - These Guidelines are primarily intended for the benefit of students attending DkIT and provide assistance to staff in supporting the mental well-being of all current and prospective students.

Sign Up for our 'Skills for Life' Lunchtime Presentations

A series of lunchtime presentations offered by the DkIT Counselling Service.

They will run from the beginning of the Semester and will focus on developing various skills that will be of use as a student and for life! The presentations will be short and no participation is required.

Local External Services

Mental Health Services in Louth including daycare centres in Dundalk and Drogheda, as well as St. Brigid's Hospital Ardee. All referrals to Louth/Meath Mental Health Services is usually done via referral from GP.

Counselling Service for Adults who have Experienced Childhood Abuse - Rian Counselling Service is a professional service for adults [over 18 years of age] who have experienced physical, emotional, sexual or neglectful abuse during childhood.

ReachOut - The aim of ReachOut is to provide credible information, help, support and advice to college students around a range of topics that can affect your mental health & well-being such as anxiety, panic, and shyness; depression; eating disorders; bullying and personal safety; suicide and self-harm; family and friends; sex and relationships; alcohol, drugs and addiction; loss and grief; understanding schizophrenia and psychosis; and money, work and study.

Samaritans - Samaritans provides confidential non-judgemental emotional support, 24 hours a day for people who are experiencing feelings of distress or despair, including those which could lead to suicide.

They can be contacted on Tel. 116 123

AWARE - AWARE is a voluntary organization formed in 1985 by a group of interested patients, relatives and mental health professionals, whose aims are to assist that section of the population who are directly affected by depression.You can phone AWARE's support line on 1890 303 302 or alternatively (01) 6766166Open 7 days a week, 10am-10pmE-mail:aware@iol.ie

SpunOut.ie - SpunOut.ie is a youth-led media initiative covering all aspects of youth info, health, lifestyle and activism. SpunOut.ie aims to guide young people through life with quality information, support and inspiration as well as providing a platform for young people to express their opinions, realise that they are not alone and get heard.

GROW - GROW is a Mental Health Organisation which helps people who have suffered, or are suffering, from mental health problems. Members are helped to recover from all forms of emotional distress, or indeed, to prevent such happening. GROW has been in Ireland since 1969 and has a national network of more than 145 groups throughout the country.If you would like to talk to somebody or find out information about your nearest group please call our infoline on 1890 474 474.You can also phone GROW on 041 9839617.

Stop A Suicide - Developed by Harvard psychiatrist Douglas Jacobs, MD, Stop a Suicide Today! teaches you how to recognize the signs of suicide in family members, friends and co-workers, and empowers you to make a difference in the lives of your loved ones. It emphasizes the relationship between suicide and mental illness and the notion that a key step in reducing suicide is to get those in need of mental health treatment. Moreover, Stop a Suicide Today! aims to make clear that the expression of suicidal thoughts and behaviours is to be considered a medical emergency and treated as such.

Rape Crisis North East- Rape Crisis North East (RCNE) is a dedicated professional counselling service available to women, men and teenagers who have suffered as a result of Rape, Sexual Harassment, Sexual Assault and Child Sexual Abuse within the North East Region of Ireland.Freephone Helpline: 1800 212122

Headstrong - Headstrong is an initiative with a mission to empower communities to support young people in Ireland aged 12-25 to achieve better mental health and wellbeing. Headstrong has introduced the concept of youth mental health to Ireland – it focuses on the mental health issues of people as they journey into adulthood.Links:

Mental Health Ireland- Mental Health Ireland is a national voluntary organisation which aims to promote positive mental health and to actively support persons with a mental illness, their families and carers by identifying their needs and advocating their rights.You can phone MHI on 01 2841166

What students say about our service

We value all feedback from students who utilise the counselling service. Here is a sample of some of the positive feedback we have received recently:

"Supportive, Encouraging, Empowering"

"Waiting area and room were a relaxed environment, counsellor made me feel at ease from I stepped in the room"

"I don't know where I would be or if I would be anywhere without you or your service, it's invaluable. Words don't do justice but you've literally changed my life. Thank you. I feel like myself again. I feel strong.” 3rd Year student

"No matter how big or small the problem is, the counsellors are more than willing to help. Very welcoming and open. Made feel at ease. Couldn't have been easier to talk about my problems"

"Everything was done to suit me as best as possible"

"Having only availed of the service in my final year I wish I had of done so earlier! As a mature student the service was invaluable in allowing me to recognise the strength, resilience, and courage it takes to juggle all that's involved in balancing home/work/study and to have the support from this service to acknowledge that and give you the support has been, without doubt, the reason I have made it this far. Thank you"

"I'd highly recommend the counselling service to all students that feel they need to talk. No problem is too big or too small, and in my own experience I felt that what I thought was a small problem turned out to be a bigger one, yet I was treated the same throughout my experience. From you step inside the door, you will feel completely at ease and welcomed. Regardless of your problem or even if you just wish to talk to someone, I strongly recommend to all students to attend."